Veronica plant named ‘Whitewater’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Veronica  plant, ‘Whitewater’, that is characterized by its white flowers, its foliage that is dark green in color with a lustrous surface, and its low spreading habit.

Botanical classification: Veronica hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Whitewater’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Veronicaplant of hybrid origin and will be referred to hereinafter by itscultivar name, ‘Whitewater’. The new cultivar of Veronica is a hardyherbaceous perennial grown for landscape use.

‘Whitewater’ was discovered by the Inventor in May of 2008 as anaturally occurring branch mutation of Veronica ‘Waterperry’ (notpatented) that was growing in a one-gallon container at his nursery inIngleside, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings by the Inventor in May of 2008 in Ingleside, Ill. Thecharacteristics of the new cultivar have been found to be stable and toreproduce true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Whitewater’ as a new and unique cultivar of Veronica.

-   -   1. ‘Whitewater’ exhibits flowers that are white in color.    -   2. ‘Whitewater’ exhibits foliage that is dark green in color        with a lustrous surface.    -   3. ‘Whitewater’ exhibits a low spreading habit.

The parent plant, ‘Waterperry’, differs from ‘Whitewater’ is havingflowers that are blue in color. ‘Whitewater’ can also be compared to thecultivar ‘Georgia Blue’ (not patented), which is similar in being ahybrid Veronica with a low growing spreading habit. ‘Georgia Blue’differs from ‘Whitewater’ in having blue flowers and in being taller inplant height.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Veronica. The photographs weretaken of a plant approximately one year in age as grown outdoors in aSVD 450 container in Glencoe, Ill. and forced into bloom afteroverwintering.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a top view of ‘Whitewater’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close up view of a flowering stem of‘Whitewater’.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Veronica.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as observedfor a plant grown in a 1-qt container in Glencoe, Ill. The phenotype ofthe new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic,and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance withthe 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—4 weeks in mid spring.        -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous perennial, basal branching,            prostrate plant habit, flowering stems emerging from            axillary nodes.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 inches) in            height with a spread of about 45 cm (18 inches).        -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 8.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings, root initiation occurs in 14            days at 85° F. under mist and a rooted cutting will develop            in a 50-cell plug in 4 weeks at 85° F.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Oval.        -   Stem color.—Young; 147C, mature; 147B becoming heavily            suffused with 177A.        -   Stem size.—Average of 1.3 mm in diameter and 21 cm in            length.        -   Stem surface.—Pubescent.        -   Branching habit.—Emerge from base, an average of 12 branches            as grown in a 1-qt container, occasional lateral branching.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaf size.—An average of 1.6 cm in width and length when            mature.        -   Leaf number.—Average of 18 per stem 18 cm in length.        -   Leaf base.—Broadly cuneate to truncate.        -   Leaf apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Leaf margin.—Crenate, about 4 per side.        -   Leaf venation.—Reticulate, recessed on upper surface and            raised on lower surface, color matches leaf color becoming            144A near base on upper surface.        -   Leaf surface.—Puberulent on upper and lower surface,            appearance is lustrous.        -   Leaf aspect.—Held primarily horizontal to stem on petioles            held at about a 45° angle upward from stem.        -   Leaf internode length.—An average of 1.5 cm.        -   Leaf color.—Newly formed and mature upper surface; 137A,            newly formed and mature lower surface; 137B.        -   Petiole.—Average of 5 mm in length and 1 mm in length, 144A            in color, puberulent surface, sulcate in shape, held at            about a 45° angle upward from stem.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Racemes of rotate-shaped flowers from            leaf axils.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Individual flowers last 3 to 4            days, inflorescence lasts about 10 days, blooms from bottom            of raceme towards apex.        -   Inflorescence size.—Racemes are about 6 cm in length and 1.8            cm in diameter.        -   Flower type.—Rotate.        -   Flower number.—About 12 flowers per raceme, an average of 2            racemes per stem.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower buds.—Elliptic in shape, about 4 mm in length and 2            mm in diameter, color 155A with calyx portion 137C.        -   Flower size.—About 2 mm in depth and 8 mm in diameter.        -   Peduncles.—About 5 cm in length and 1 mm in width, pubescent            surface, 137C in color, flower internode length an average            of 3.5 mm.        -   Pedicels.—An average of 7 mm in length and 0.7 mm in width,            pubescent surface, 137C in color, one leaf at the base of            each petiole; about 2.5 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width,            oblanceolate in shape with all other characteristics similar            to leaf.        -   Calyx.—Campanulate becoming spreading when flower is fully            open, about 2 mm in depth and width and becoming 1.5 mm in            depth and 4 mm in width when spreading.        -   Sepals.—4, un-fused, about 1 mm in width and 2 mm in length,            137B in color, surface is glabrous on upper and lower            surface, elliptic in shape, acute apex, cuneate base, entire            margin.        -   Petals.—4, orbicular in shape, rounded apex, fused at base            to very short tube (<0.5 mm), entire margin, color of upper            and lower surface 155A becoming very slightly flushed with            62D, up to 5 mm in length and width, glabrous and velvety            surface.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 Pistil, style is about 4 mm in length, 0.4 mm            in width and 155C in color, stigma is minute in size and            155C in color, ovary is superior, about 1 mm in diameter and            144A in color.        -   Androecium.—2 stamens, filament is about 4 in length, 0.4 mm            in width and 155C in color, anthers are triangular in shape,            about 0.7 mm in length, attachment is basifixed, and 155C in            color, pollen is moderate in quantity and 161D in color.        -   Fruit.—Fruit and seed production was not observed under the            conditions tested.

1. A new and distinct variety of Veronica plant designated ‘Whitewater’as described and illustrated herein.